Page:William Blackstone, Commentaries on the Laws of England (3rd ed, 1768, vol I).djvu/346

 330 which was thereby enabled, in the year 1765, to reduce above two millions terling of the public debt.

, before any part of the aggregate fund (the urplues whereof are one of the chief ingredients that form the inking fund) can be applied to diminih the principal of the public debt, it tands mortgaged by parliament to raie an annual um for the maintenance of the king's houhold and the civil lit. For this purpoe, in the late reigns, the produce of certain branches of the excie and cutoms, the pot-office, the duty on wine licences, the revenues of the remaining crown lands, the profits ariing from courts of jutice, (which articles include all the hereditary revenues of the crown) and alo a clear annuity of 120000𝑙. in money, were ettled on the king for life, for the upport of his majety's houhold, and the honour and dignity of the crown. And, as the amount of thee everal branches was uncertain, (though in the lat reign they were computed to have ometimes raied almot a million) if they did not arie annually to 800,000𝑙. the parliament engaged to make up the deficiency. But his preent majety having, oon after his acceion, pontaneouly ignified his conent, that his own hereditary revenues might be o dipoed of as might bet conduce to the utility and atisfaction of the public, and having graciouly accepted the limited um of 800000𝑙. per annum for the upport of his civil lit (and that alo charged with three life annuities, to the princes of Wales, the duke of Cumberland, and the princes Amelia, to the amount of 77000𝑙.) the aid hereditary and other revenues are now carried into and made a part of the aggregate fund, and the aggregate fund is charged with the payment of the whole annuity to the crown of 800000𝑙. per annum. Hereby the revenues themelves, being put under the ame care and management as the other branches of the public patrimony, will produce more and be better collected than heretofore; and the public is a gainer of upwards of 100000𝑙. per annum by this diintereted bounty of his majety. The civil lit, thus liquidated, together with the four Rh